Safe dial



Nov. 29, 1938. .1. H. HAMILTON SAFE DIAL Filed Aug. 22, 1955 J AVE ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 29, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

My invention relates to a safe dial of the usual type having numerical indexes for combinations.

An object of my invention is to provide such a dial which will render it difiicult for the combination shaft to be broken by burglars and the like.

A further object of my invention is to provide means in combination with the above means to allow the dial knob to be removed from the dial face.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the foregoing characteristics which will be compactly formed in an assembly which can be conveniently attached to any safe.

A further object of my invention is to provide additional means for turning the dial, and to construct a dial of this character which can be manufactured at a very reasonable cost.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claim, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of the dial as attached to a safe.

Figure 2 is a similar partially broken away sectional elevation with the knob removed.

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken medially of the knob and shaft, and

Figure 4 is a view of the knob with the attached outer dial.

I have used the character II] to designate the knob for turning the dial, and the character ll represents the dialling disc attached solidly thereto. This dial bears the usual numbers on the scale 12 as shOWn in Figure 1, the figures of which are on the bevelled portion l3. Attachedto the knob I0 is the pin [4 and the smaller pin l5 which is mounted at one side of the center. The

central pin l4 engages the cavity IS in the shaft H, which shaft operates the tumblers or the locking mechanism of the safe and the small pin l5 engages the cavity 30. The outer end of the shaft I1 terminates in the flanged member l8 which is received within the cavity [9.

The cavity I9 is a recess formed within the member 20 which is bevelled at 2|. Attached to the member 20 is the metal ring 22. The member 20 is secured to the wall of the safe 23 by means of flat-head machine screws 24 passing therethrough and secured with the nuts 25.

The metal ring 22 includes the flanges 26 through which the machine screws 21 pass for fastening the ring 22 to the member 20.

In the usual type of safe, the shaft or pin I1 is driven ofi of the knob I 0 which is integral therewith and the pin can then be driven inwardly and the safe opened. In my form of invention, however, it will be noted that the flange l8 prevents the pin from being driven inwardly.

The knob. In with the associated disc II can be taken off nightly so that the shaft can not be broken through or any leverage exerted against the knob or otherwise. In other words, when the knob I0 is removed, the flush surface presented in the front of the safe will prevent any unwarranted manipulation, so that in this way the safe is burglar proof.

It will also be noted from this construction that by means of the extra member 20, the entire mechanism can be attached to any standard safe which is already in use without the features incorporated herein. This is an important feature since most safes usually have the ring member 22 affixed directly to the wall of the safe so that is would be quite diificult to attach such a unit to the safe, whereas in the construction shown in my invention, the entire unit can be formed separately and then installed on the safe door.

A further modification of my invention comprises the handle 28 which is secured through the knob l0 and which handle is turned by means of the knob 29. With this construction, the com- 2 bination of the safe can be quickly made without turning the knob [0 with the fingers, and facilitates the action thereof since the coincidence of the numbers with the 0 point can be more accurately and readily determined.

It will now be seen that I have provided a safe dial which prevents fraudulent opening thereof, and which provides features which eliminate tampering with the safe.

It will also be seen that I have provided these features in a unit assembly which can be attached to any standard safe.

It will be seen further that I have provided the foregoing characteristics in a construction which is simple of manufacture.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my invention without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claim any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents, which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

A safe dial mounting comprising a substantially thickened base member adapted to be attached to a standard safe wall, said base member having a recessed circular opening, a tumbler guiding shaft having an outer flange of greater diameter than the shaft received within said recess to limit the movement of the shaft, said shaft adapted to receive a removable dial having thereon certain indicia.

JOHN H. HAMILTON. 

